Architecture in Helsinki

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What do you guys think? I couldn't find a thread on them (only comments in passing). I just discovered their album and have really been enjoying it. The first two songs seem to be highly influenced by OMD. I wish there were even more synths like there are on the first track though.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Saturday, 24 April 2004 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

the first couple of tracks are ok but overall, they're a poor man's mix of mum and animal collective.

― jp, Saturday, 24 April 2004 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I like a lot the songs that come later, too. A couple that nicely morph through completely different moods and styles, like twee-prog, and one with a cool minor-key synth part. I doubt if I'll want to keep playing it much, because those twee-er-than-thou vocals are kind of hard to take.

― Curt (cgould), Saturday, 24 April 2004 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

jp, I don't know how accurate your description of a mix of mum and animal collective is. I can't really stomach Animal Collective.

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Saturday, 24 April 2004 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I can't stomach Mum, but, like they say, you can't nauseate all the people all the time.

― Curt (cgould), Saturday, 24 April 2004 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Cutesy bullshit.

― OCP (OCP), Saturday, 24 April 2004 22:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"the owls go" is a wretched, wretched track, but some of the more electronic numbers have grown on me over time. the male singer is in desperate need of some vocal training

― the surface noise (electricsound), Saturday, 24 April 2004 22:58 (twenty-two years ago)

they seem to be getting a big push here. never heard a note, stupid name.

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 24 April 2004 23:03 (twenty-two years ago)

they sound like "happy ever after" by the stockholm monsters crossed with maher shalal hash baz, that is when they're not being a Langley Schools New Order

― the surface noise (electricsound), Saturday, 24 April 2004 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

is that a good thing?

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 24 April 2004 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

A Langley Schools New Order sounds terrific. Anyway, Phil-two to thread.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 24 April 2004 23:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"the owls go" is a wretched, wretched track, but some of the more electronic numbers have grown on me over time.

someone's changed!

― OCP (OCP), Sunday, 25 April 2004 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

A Langley Schools New Order sounds terrific.

yeah, but filter it through the worst, most indulgent Sarah twee.

― OCP (OCP), Sunday, 25 April 2004 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Boring boring dud.

― C0L1N B3CK3TT (Colin Beckett), Sunday, 25 April 2004 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Dancing about Architecture in Helsinki is like writing about music in Espoo.

― BanjoMania (Brilhante), Sunday, 25 April 2004 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

jim in surprising AiH restraint shockah.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 25 April 2004 05:49 (twenty-two years ago)

i've mellowed

― the surface noise (electricsound), Sunday, 25 April 2004 06:33 (twenty-two years ago)

its the sex and cookware

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 25 April 2004 06:44 (twenty-two years ago)

eleven months pass...

The new album. Holy shit I really like this. It's Tweetronicdancetastic!
"Wishbone" my new fave song.

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 25 March 2005 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

i do like some of the more brassy moments. having since heard the dude sing properly, i'm now more frustrated than ever that he doesn't do it all the time.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Friday, 25 March 2005 09:04 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

Anyone else seen them on their current U.S. tour? Really good.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

I like a few of the songs, but overall the album seems too calculated to me.

― darin (darin), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 21:21 (twenty years ago)

they're nice, but i can only take one song in one sitting. they work well w/ ipod shuffle play.

― the underground homme (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 28 June 2005 21:25 (twenty years ago)

i thought the first album was completely forgettable but i dearly love the second one.

too calculated? it's a wash of ideas, it could have been a mess but it isn't. you probably mean too clever which is always a silly criticism.

― keith m (keithmcl), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 01:19 (twenty years ago)

No, I mean it sounds too clean or perhaps too mannered - I can't quite put my finger on it. It's definitely an interesting album, though.

― darin (darin), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

i thought the first album was completely forgettable but i dearly love the second one.

ooh. that's kind of what i needed to hear, since i felt the same way about the first.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 29 June 2005 16:02 (twenty years ago)

Revive again! The depth of their 2nd album has sunk in a bit for me. Too few converts, I think. A bit unheralded.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 00:47 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I probably only listened to it a couple of times when it first came out but held off buying until the nice vinyl edition came out - I was really blown away by how good it sounded. The 1st album for me was a collection of fragments, some lovely, some slightly tedious but it's great to hear them do a really boisterous (yes!) pop record that hangs together so well.

― wombatX (wombatX), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 03:51 (twenty years ago)

never heard the first, but the second one's fantastic, thread definitely needed to be revived as I only just now started listening to these guys.

first 8 songs rival any stretch on any album this year, and all this "too twee" talk is preposterous - these songs sound genuinely alive, and most of them really move to boot.

― Josh Love (screamapillar), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 05:19 (twenty years ago)

forget the album - GO SEE THEM LIVE.

last night's edinburgh show was perhaps the finest thing i've seen this year, jandek included. gladness, kindness, musical kapow! and i didn't even like their record that much.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 05:51 (twenty years ago)

As recommended by Bis..

― wombatX (wombatX), Tuesday, 12 July 2005 09:45 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

From their newly (and quite nicely) designed website

'Heart it Races' is our brand new single, our first in many many moons. So, Shake it. Hear it. See it. Feel it and smell it all over this here page! And then run down your street Yelling 'Boom dah dah dah dah dah dah'.

To celebrate it's launch, we will be Jet setting around the planet earth for the next month or two playing out a whole lot of our new jamms. So, be sure to come along for what promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening of jazz ballet and power chords.

All this will act as some sort of training for the release of our forthcoming 3rd album, 'Places Like This' Which will see the light of day in late July or Early August (depending on where you at).

Obviously, you will hear a lot more about this over the coming months, suffice to say we are all wetting our pants.

Until then, keep your eyes watching this space as we are soon to launch a brand new universe full of deep and shiny nooks and HTML crannies. Until then be sure to keep your eyes on the 'DELVE' section of this site, our virb page, which will be the source of all things newsworthy in our gang for the timebeing!

they're a bit mental. Going to go listen to 'Heart it Races'. People on last/fm are all for it.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:00 (nineteen years ago)

Haven't you got better things to be doing?

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:02 (nineteen years ago)

And if you're on the internet, why are you not logged into Skype?

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:03 (nineteen years ago)

Listening to this new single makes me think that it will take just as long for me to like this one as it did the last one.

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:04 (nineteen years ago)

Galcy (apparently, don't ever call them that) are making lemon chips.
I'm just trying to see if I can download some AIH. Might even buy two tickets to their Dublin gig tomorrow.
You know, it's like, sometimes it's just,

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:04 (nineteen years ago)

I find skype the equivalent of bumping into each other in the street but still seeing them after you have said your goodbyes.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

You're not making it easy for others to contribute here. Others! Pipe up!

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:05 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think they care

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

Pipe down you

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:08 (nineteen years ago)

One ticket it is then!

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:08 (nineteen years ago)

Grrrrr

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:08 (nineteen years ago)

Gavin sounds alot like Perry through the floor.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:09 (nineteen years ago)

I'll just go to Naas instead then? Hang with the Trude

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:09 (nineteen years ago)

Talking, that is.

Are you going to get Jana (soft jay hard ay) Hunter's album or will that be left up to me again?

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:09 (nineteen years ago)

Trudie only loves you for your comical ways.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

I will order it when I come to Limerick

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

She'll be living in Japan in her final year though, so if I were you I'd try to be her best friend.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

I have no comical ways

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

But I'll pretend to

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

If I order it (which will be the case anyway) it will get here quicker! I will let you know my decision.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

Your walk is pretty comical.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

But I want the Jana Hunter album and if you order it it will be claimed as your own

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

have you avoided going to celebaura.com whilst with the folks? or is it too hard to resist?
People dot com tells me Halle Berry is 40! How she kept that pornstar body I will never know.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

I believe I ordered 'Scott Walker'. Some listening you did of that.
If you pay for it I have no problem.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

I did pay for it. And that album was hard, and I'm not a perservering person.

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:15 (nineteen years ago)

I was just jumping on the bandwagon, but it was boring there and everyone kept saying things like shards and monumental and unique so I went to Leisureland instead.

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:17 (nineteen years ago)

That's for sure.
Dinner was so quick! It contained eggs.
About 6 people have dropped out of fashion since Sept.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

Jesus

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:22 (nineteen years ago)

Laura, and Catherine Anne

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:23 (nineteen years ago)

Blonde Laura?

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:24 (nineteen years ago)

Mature Laura, I believe.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20038787,00.htm
Poor Lily.

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:27 (nineteen years ago)

stop reading people.com

It's bad for you

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:31 (nineteen years ago)

I think this thread has been hijacked enough, don't you?

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:35 (nineteen years ago)

not like anyone even clicked on it. but yes, i agree. people can get back to me on the AIH progress. Let 'Heart it Races' play in the background a bit there. It is good!

― o-ess, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:41 (nineteen years ago)

why don't you come on skype? Maz is here

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:43 (nineteen years ago)

okay, she's going

― I know, right?, Monday, 14 May 2007 20:43 (nineteen years ago)

dude from Dusted's opinion of "heart ir races"

Architecture in Helsinki
“Heart It Races” b/w “Heart It Races (Yacht Remix)”
(Polyvinyl)

I don’t listen to a lot of the large-ensemble type bands that Pitchfork endorses, though I know them by name: The Arcade Fire, Menomena, I’m From Barcelona, Architecture in Helsinki. After hearing this white-sleeved promo, I feel correct in my decision. “Heart it Races” sound like music for furries to re-enact their favorite scenes from “The Lion King” over, just before phallus slams into fur-lined orifice for a couple of weak, sweat-drenched pumps, the thrill of the hunt fully receded and reality quickly settling in. Yacht’s remix is incredible, as it seems to realize what a piece of work he’s got in his hands, and so tries to make it as embarrassing to listen to as he can. He succeeds. Blue states lose!

― Drooone, Friday, 18 May 2007 02:26 (nineteen years ago)

*it races

― Drooone, Friday, 18 May 2007 02:26 (nineteen years ago)

stupid name.

yes. i couldn't give this band a chance because their name is too awful.

― derrrick, Friday, 18 May 2007 06:06 (nineteen years ago)

fuck da haters here

― King Boy Pato, Friday, 18 May 2007 06:24 (nineteen years ago)

fuck AiH you mean

― electricsound, Friday, 18 May 2007 08:04 (nineteen years ago)

Just because nobody wants to listen to your band, Jimbo!

― King Boy Pato, Friday, 18 May 2007 08:13 (nineteen years ago)

By the way, Jim, here's a little ditty:

Jealousy's a curse
but a bellyache is worse!

― King Boy Pato, Friday, 18 May 2007 08:14 (nineteen years ago)

i don't see the connection philip

― electricsound, Friday, 18 May 2007 08:42 (nineteen years ago)

most anaemic cover of 'soul finger' i've ever heard.

― haitch, Friday, 18 May 2007 09:27 (nineteen years ago)

forget the album - GO SEE THEM LIVE.

8080. The remix album is pretty good though.

― braveclub, Friday, 18 May 2007 09:30 (nineteen years ago)

i don't see the connection philip

Two L's in Phillip, dude!

― King Boy Pato, Friday, 18 May 2007 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

lol funny my boyfriend words for Steven Holl who actually designed some big shot building in Helsinki

― Surmounter, Friday, 18 May 2007 21:33 (nineteen years ago)

i was like why is this on ILM? didn't know

― Surmounter, Friday, 18 May 2007 21:33 (nineteen years ago)

i think comparing a song to sex scenes in the lion king says more about the reviewer than the band.

― Gukbe, Saturday, 19 May 2007 02:14 (nineteen years ago)

I really, really liked the first album. Didn't realise they had done another two since then, so thanks for the thread, as it will prompt me to go and find them. "The Owls Go" is a lovely song, so so SO not ILM friendly, but I like it a great deal.

Never made me think of lions having sex, though. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing? Next time I'll visualise that as I listen.

― hobart paving, Saturday, 19 May 2007 11:06 (nineteen years ago)

two months pass...

Heart it Races-I love it, I listen to it to annoy you. La Blogotheque are all over it.

― o-ess, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:46 (eighteen years ago)

who? what? It is annoying period. It's 5 is obviously better. Its like this thread is your Look I'm Here beacon.

― I know, right?, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:47 (eighteen years ago)

Hilarious.
Why don't I just go with someone ELSE to the Brodsky Quartet then?
Because we can all drift off to Penguin Penguin...

― o-ess, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:50 (eighteen years ago)

I like steven holl sometimes

― RJG, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:51 (eighteen years ago)

You have such a stick up your ass about that song.

― I know, right?, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:51 (eighteen years ago)

I'm giving your EP ticket to l3tte appl3juic3.

― o-ess, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:52 (eighteen years ago)

I will require reimbursement.

― I know, right?, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:52 (eighteen years ago)

she can now google herself on this thread y'know.

― I know, right?, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:53 (eighteen years ago)

You have such a stick up your ass about that song.

fuck you.

good for l3tt3.
TI4RN4N.

― o-ess, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:54 (eighteen years ago)

just so people can get in the spirit....

Go AIH!
Places LIke This
good if you get into it.

― o-ess, Monday, 23 July 2007 00:54 (eighteen years ago)

They have a remix of a new (not good) single by someone else on Modular called "Cell Phone" or something. Anyway, it's very good, sort of drifts from post-rock to Talking Heads circa Remain in Light to kitchen sink dancehall, like a more serious version of The Avalanches. I had always dismissed this band reflexively but I am now curious to hear their new album.

― Tim F, Monday, 23 July 2007 02:00 (eighteen years ago)

I raved about this band circa "The Owl" (first album single, yes? or am I making up that title?), and then the second album came out and everyone else raved about it. Obv, I got excited, but then I listened to it. Turned out it was terrible...not that the songs are horrible (some very nice hooks!) as much as it is that guy's voice. Jesus! As someone who generally likes (and occasionally loves) twee, I found his voice over-the-top in its obnoxiousness. It's like he tried to imitate that annoying MadTV character (oops! way too vague: Stewart, i think?)

― Tape Store, Monday, 23 July 2007 02:13 (eighteen years ago)

I'm giving your EP ticket to l3tte appl3juic3.

-- o-ess, Monday, 23 July 2007 01:52 (Monday, 23 July 2007 01:52)

You monster!

― kv_nol, Monday, 23 July 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

new single is awful.

― Jordan Sargent, Monday, 23 July 2007 21:01 (eighteen years ago)

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